No. Under the proposed new law, as under the current law, medical professionals would enjoy a right of conscientious objection. Except in emergencies, they would be entitled to refuse to participate in an abortion. However, they would be required to refer the patient to another practitioner who can provide the care she needs.Read More »

The proposed new law would make abortion lawful where there is an immediate risk to the pregnant person’s life or an immediate risk of serious harm to her health. One doctor’s certification would be required. No statutory time-limit is proposed.Read More »

In collaboration with Lawyers for Choice, we have produced a new booklet providing short accessible answers to key questions about the referendum. We hope it will be a useful way of encouraging undecided voters to come and take a closer look at the more detailed answers here on the site. Look out for hard copies of the booklet in the future.

Our printing budget is very limited. However, we welcome any local canvassing group who want to print out and distribute their own copies. Please just tag us on twitter at @aboutthe8th to let us know that you are using the booklet.

Kathy at We Do Printing (www.wedoprinting.ie) designed the booklet and we highly recommend her work.

The Government’s proposed new law will repeal the Regulation of Information (Services Outside the State for Termination of Pregnancies) Act 1995, and key provisions in the Censorship Acts of 1929 and 1946. Under these laws information about abortion is censored and heavily regulated.Read More »

In the referendum people will vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to removing Article 40.3.3 (‘the 8th Amendment’) from the Constitution and replacing it with a new text: ‘Provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancies’.Read More »

Download About the 8th

Key Terms

8th Amendment: the term used here to refer to Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution, which in fact combines the 8th Amendment (equal right to life of ‘unborn’ and ‘mother), 13th Amendment (right to travel), and 14th Amendment (right to information).

Constitution: Bunreacht na hEireann, introduced in 1937. It lays down the structure and powers of the organs of the state and the fundamental rights of individuals in Ireland. All law must comply with the Constitution.

Legislation: laws passed by the Oireachtas (Acts of the Oireachtas). These must comply with the Constitution. Unconstitutional laws can be invalidated by the courts.

Foetus: the term used here to describe all prenatal human life.

Viability: the term used here to describe the point at which a foetus is likely to be able to survive outside the womb, including with significant medical intervention and assistance.

Fatal foetal anomaly: the term used here to describe conditions diagnosed in the foetus that are likely to result in death before or very shortly after birth.

About this Site

This site provides information about the 8th Amendment and the legal implications of repeal of the 8th. It is designed to answer questions about the law in the run up to the referendum on repeal of the 8th Amendment to be held on 25 May 2018.